
SHERIDAN'S 



BATTLES IN THE SHENANDOAH 



^ 



HENRY HORTON. 



LYNN, MASS.: 
PRESS OF THOS. P. NICHOLS. 

1885. 



SHERIDAN'S 



\ BATTLES IN THE SHENANDOAH 



HENR Y 


NORTON. 






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1 AUG 


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LYNN 


MASS.: 


PRESS () F T II O S. 


r. NICHOLS. 


1 8 S a 





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Copyrighted 1885 
By HENRY HORTON, 



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BESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 



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Note, — For the historical facts of this description of Sheridan's Campaign in the 
Shenandoah Valley, the Author is indebted to Lossw^'s Field Book of the Civil War. 

H. H. 



SHKRIDAN'S 

BATTLES IN THE SHENANDOAH. 



was in the harvest time, that Early hxy 
From Winchester about four miles away. 
"♦" When Sheridan, resolving to " Go in " 
And crush the right of Early's line quite thin 
By move to Martinsburg, which he had made 
From Bunker's Hill. Phil's plans were quickly laid 
One night ; and oft' before the flush of dawn, 
With Wilson's Cavalry Corps to lead them on. 
The Sixth Corps, under Wright, moved swift and still 
In double columns up from Berry ville. 
The Nineteenth, under Emory, marched to flank 
The pike, as did the Sixth in double rank. 
The Eighth, from Summit Point, marched under Crook, 
To join them at the ford of large-sized brook. 
At daybreak W^ilson crossed the Opequan 
And charged up through a gorge, as was the plan, 
To fall on Early's centre and his right. 
Before he could them with the left unite : 



But Wright's great army train blocked up the way, 

And Emory in the rear was forced to stay 

So long that Early up from Bunker's Hill 

Had hurried and was back again ere Phil 

Had formed his line, and from the hills about 

Swift on Phil's centre moved. To put to rout 

Or break his half-formed line was Early's aim ; 

Then occupy the gorge and " bag the game." 

But Averill's Cavalr}', close in Early's rear. 

With Merritt's on his flank, made Early fear ; 

So while he lay, not knowing what to do, 

Bold Sheridan pushed two good divisions through 

The narrow pass and woods, to strike the left 

And centre, which were of support bereft. 

Then Ricketts of the Sixth, where shells fell thick. 

And Grover of the Nineteenth, moved up quick, 

And, charging Early's centre, broke his line, 

(Here Rodes was sent the Rebel dead to join ;) 

Then Early two divisions quickly hurled 

Upon the Federal front, and soon 't was whirled 

Disordered, broken, back from whence it came. 

Ah ! then it looked as though he 'd " bag the game ; 

But just then Captain Rigby with a squad 

Of men from Iowa turned and bravely stood, 

And nucleus formed, which soon began to grow ; 

This of resistance made an able show. 

Then Grover sent the First Maine Batterv in. 



And Captain Bradbury soon kicked up a din, 

And also sent in grape and solid shot — 

The grape did splendid work and made things hot. 

Then Emory rallied in a friendly grove 

Some New York men, who bravely by him stood, 

And in the Rebel rear a volley poured. 

While from a new-formed line the battle roared. 

Then back in turn the smitten Rebels fled, 

As round them fell the wounded and the dead ; 

Then stood compact again our shattered front. 

And moved once more to brave the battle's brunt. 

Then roared the battle with an awful roar. 

While through the tender flesh the bullets tore, 

As fiice to face the blue and gray brave fought. 

Their ranks depleting fast by shell and shot. 

Fierce raged the fight on that ensanguined field — 

The blue stood firm, the gray disdained to yield. 

But hark ! far ofl'upon the Union right 

A ringing cheer goes up as to the fight ; 

The Eighth Corps, with brave Crook, came sweeping in 

From Summit Point, where they at dawn had been. 

And falling with a heavy hand on Early's left, 

(With Torbert's Cavalry) they with movements deft 

And swift smote Early's dazed men so. 

That they recoiled dismayed beneath the blow ; 

While Wright and Emory, with impetuous zeal. 

Upon the centre charged and made it reel. 



As Wilson's Cavalry dashed upon their right ; 

And soon the shattered force was put to flight. 

Back to the hills the broken columns fled : 

Fear lent them wings as up the heights they sped. 

Within their works they timorous turned at bay. 

And vainly strove the final charge to stay ; 

But on them Phil his conquering columns hurled, 

And Early soon " Through Winchester was whirled. 

In hot pursuit Phil hung on Early's rear 

Till in the darkness he did disappear. 

Two thousand men and more he left behind 

As prisoners, and with dead the roads were lined ; 

Five cannon and nine battle-flags he lost — 

And that was what the fight to Early cost. 

Through Strasbur^ on he fled to Fisher's Hill, 

And took position there to wait for Phil. 

On this commanding slope lay Early's right, 

His left extending to North Mountain quite. 

Rough earthworks up his sappers quickly threw. 

For good 'gainst Phil's attack that they might do ; 

For Phil was after them next day at dawn, 

Resolved that they again should feel his brawn. 

So, sending Torbert oft' at break of day, 

With cavalry down the Luray Valley way, 

Phil meant he at Newmarket should appear. 

To seize, full thirty miles in Early's rear. 

The Eighth Corps then he sent around the left 



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To Early's rear, so if his line was cleft, 

Between the Eighth and Sixth and Nineteentli fast^ 

Caught in the toils, he 'd " bag the game" at last. 

The Sixth and Nineteenth he against the front 

Advanced, and then (as was the wont 

Of Sheridan) manoeuvred for a while 

In hopes that he might from the works beguile 

The army that from Winchester had fled. 

And left behind the wounded and the dead. 

'T was all in vain, and so Phil called a halt. 

Then with closed ranks he moved to the assault : 

First came a cavalry charge, then brave men rushed 

On Early's works, and soon his left was pushed 

Down from North Mountain, while the front line broke, 

And to his heels again " Old Jubal took." 

This time a thousand prisoners fell to Phil, 

And sixteen guns. Thus ended Fisher's Hill. 

And had not Torbert been checked on the way 

To Early's rear, the chronicle doth say, 

That doubtless Early's army would have ])een 

Dispersed, destroyed or captured there and then. 

But they slipped out, and up the valley sped 

To Port Republic, filled with doubt and dread. 

But Phil was after them, both sharp and hot, 

And there their fleeing wagon train was caught 

And burned, but still the frightened foe flew on, 

Phil's cavalry keeping them upon the run. 



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Till in the Blue Ridge passes Early sought 

For shelter, and he there the shelter got. 

At Staunton, Sheridan, by Grant's command, 

Destroyed the army stores he found at hand. 

To Waynesboro next he pushed, and, halting there. 

He made the Virginia Central Railway share 

The fate of railways that assist the foe — 

They tear them up and twist the rails, " you know.*' 

A tannery there he burned that leather made 

To shoe the Rebel army ; mills he laid 

In ashes ; barns, too, filled with Rebel grain, 

And aught that could the Rebel arms sustain 

Was taken or destroyed, that nothing might 

The then defeated foe's return invite. 

His cavalry forces then he ordered back — 

They too left desolation in their track. 

Then down the Shenandoah Phil to seek 

Rest for his soldiers paused at Cedar Creek ; 

While Early, having overcome his fear. 

Sent Rosser out, who hung upon Phil's rear 

Till Torbert on him turned, and then ensued 

A cavalry fight as Torbert's men fell rude 

On Rosser's, when they turned tail, too, and ran ; 

No finer race was seen since war began. 

Three hundred men, twelve guns weVe left behind > 

With fifty wagons of the army kind. 

Just three days after this, near Fisher's Hill, 



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*" Old JnlDal " sought to steal a march on Phil ; 

But Phil just took " Old Jubal " by the ear, 

And gave him trouncing which was so severe 

That Phil supposed he 'd not forget it soon, 

And thought a rest would be to all a boon : 

So as the fighting for the time was done 

Apparently, Phil rode to Washington 

To make report, and with the Chief confer 

And see if he would in his plans concur ; 

And of his army gave to General Wright 

Till he returned, command, nor dreamed he might 

Be called upon, ere he got back, to face 

The foe, and stand before them in his place. 

But Early, smarting 'neath his sore defeat, 

Resolved that he would (having grown discreet), 

If he his forward movements could disguise, 

Steal on the Union flanks, and by surprise 

O'erwhelm them as they unsuspecting lay. 

With Sheridan at Washington away. 

Phil's army, as was said before, was then 

At Cedar Creek, from Strasburg miles not ten. 

Upon the eastern shore, with Crook in front, 

With Emory in his rear, while Ricketts, blunt, 

Who Wright's division then command of had, 

(This couplet's rhyme is good ; is aught here bad.^) 

Lay on a ridge and formed the Union right, 

With Torbert on his flank, near Emory quite. 



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Both Crook and Emory ridges occupied. 

And all the camp was strongly fortified. 

With Early's army, broken by defeat, 

Wright fancied all secure in his retreat ; 

He little dreamed that Early, even then, 

Was gathering with fresh horses, guns and men 

A force at Fisher's Hill, to make a dash, 

And on his flanks to fall like lightning's flash. 

Yes ; Kershaw up from Petersburg had come, 

And Early, ?zot to sound of fife and drum. 

Was stealing on through woods and rugged ways, 

Concealing every move from hostile gaze, 

To strike the flanks with Gordon in the night. 

And in the darkness put Phil's men to flight. 

Two hours past midnight Wright was made alert 

By sounds mysterious on his right flank's skirt ; 

The sounds were like the tramp of marching men. 

But, knowing of no Rebels out there then, 

He thought he 'd take counsel of his fears ; 

His first surmise was right, it now appears. 

For under cover of a fog, near dawn, 

Just when the soldiers' soundest sleep is on, 

'' Old Jubal " crept up softly to the right. 

While Gordon to the left stole noiseless quite ; 

Then on the front and flanks the tempest burst 

Of Early's ire, as he to slake his thirst 

For vengeance on the men who made him run 



13 

So fast and far. His sport had just begun, 

When broke the storm, on front and flanks and rear ; 

The half-waked men, amazed, were filled with fear, 

As through the startled camp the Rebels tore ; 

Ah I Phil's men ne'er such waking got before. 

Then thick and fast shot fell in Emory's rear. 

And Emory sent back word to Crook severe ; 

'T is said he swore on that eventful morn, 

But Emory's men repel the charge with scorn ; 

Qiilte likely, though, he ordered Crook to cease 

The firing on his rear ; no " if you please" ; 

Nor knew he that the bullets which he got. 

Were fired from Rebel rifles in so hot. 

Crook's men went down, or stood and looked aghast, 

Excepting those w^ho fled before the blast ; 

Then came the hi, hi, hi, of Rebel yell. 

And Crook's Corps back on Emory's, fear-struck, fell ; 

Brave Emory, strenuous, strove to stay the flood, 

But though McMillan's men had steadfast stood 

Against the onslaught till their ranks were torn 

In twain, yet Emory, spite of grit, was overborne — 

So back he skeltered, as a brave man should 

For safety, when to fight can do no good ; 

'T was then the brave McCauley, wounded, fell, 

As through the camp the Rebels rushed pell mell. 

When Crook and Emory back for safety fled. 

They left their cannon, stragglers, wounded, dead. 



14 



The cannon Early quickly on them tui-ned, 

Then Crook and Emory both for shelter yearned. 

The stragglers Early sent as prisoners down 

The valley, under guard, to Richmond town. 

When Wright rode up and saw that he was beat, 

He wisely ordered buglers sound " Retreat" ; 

Then sent the Eighth Corps in their part to fill. 

To cover the retreat — 't was done with skill. 

To Middleton the army backward fell. 

There hoping to enjoy a breathing spell ; 

But Early pressed upon them close and fast. 

And so Wright, Middleton a mile went past. 

There Early stopped to plunder and carouse, 

His men to eat and rest, their horses, browse ; 

And while he thus was toying with his luck. 

Brave Wright was working like a man of pluck : 

Re-forming lines, and sending provosts out 

To bring in stragglers scattered all about. 

While thus the faithful Wright toiled manful on, 

To Early turn the tables back upon. 

Far up the valley Phil came riding down 

From Winchester (he 'd passed the night in town) ; 

And as he rode quite leisurely along, 

And quaffed the morning air, fresh, cool and strong. 

Replete with flowery fragrance from the field. 

His mind to Nature's charms mayhap did yield ; 

Perchance his thoughts had wandered far away 



15 



To scenes of childhood, where in boyish play 

He dreamed he 'd be one day a warrior bold, 

And wear a sword and epaulettes of gold. 

And then a smile stole o'er his bronzed face. 

Which his fresh comely features well did grace — 

A smile of satisfaction at the thought 

That he had won his sword as soldiers ought. 

To Kernstown Phil's steed bore him slowly on — 

A steed of mettle, beauty, and of brawn ; 

But ere he reached the town he met the men. 

Who ran from Cedar Creek — were running then ; 

Phil saw the situation at a glance. 

Then flashed his eye, proud did his courser prance, 

For Phil and horse both at that moment knew 

That there was work for Phil and horse to do. 

And then, as down the road his charger sped, 

Phil swung his old felt hat above his head. 

" Turn round and face this way with me, my boys ! " 

His voice rang sharply out above the noise ; 

"' We 're going back to camp," yelled dashing Phil ; 

Some fugitives turned back, while some stood still. 

Struck as it were by an electric shock, 

Then round their gallant leader all did flock, 

While from their throats burst forth a ringing cheer. 

And all fell in at call of trumpeteer. 

Then stood Phil's army once again in line. 

For Wright had not been idle nor supine ; 




16 



Then came from Phil the order to advance 
On Early, and then Early lost his chance 
To " gobble up " Phil's army on the day 
That Sheridan was " twenty miles away." 
Then marched the Nineteenth bravely to attack 
'' Old Jubal," with the Sixth Corps at their back ; 
And Emory soon repulsed the hopeful foe 
Who sought to crush him with a vigorous blow ; 
Then roared the battle round about again, 
'Mid rallying shouts and shrieks of men in pain. 
Again the blue stood up and fought the gray. 
And wondered who would win the fight that day. 
But soon the Rebel line was crowded back, 
Then Early opened guns to foil the attack ; 
But Emory charged twice on their wavering line. 
While with him all the army did combine, 
And falling on their flanks, they broke in rout, 
As cheer on cheer went up, and shouts rang out. 
Through Strasburg, on to Fisher's Hill again, 
" Old Jubal" fled, and left his guns and train ; 
His army and his prestige was destroyed, 
And by him Patriots were no more annoyed. 

The boys went back to camp, as Phil had said. 
Except the poor boys who lay cold and dead ; 
And ere the day of " Sheridan's ride" was done. 
His Battles in the Skena?zdoak were won. 



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